Bob Arum going ahead Brandon Rios-Richie Abril with or with out HBO

Wait.... with or without HBO? Something doesn't quite rub me the right way with that comment. Have HBO and Top Rank come to a disagreement of some sort. I thought they were in this together. HBO said acouple years ago theyre not buying **** fights no more thats why theres been a few showtime ppvs in the last couple years.

Steve Kim ‏ @stevemaxboxing Close and HBO believed that they wanted a certain caliber of guy for Rios, wasn't high on Abril. Neither side budged. It is, what it is #boxing Good for HBO for sticking to their guns. Im damn tired of the garbage that Bob tries to stuff down the public's throats.

Rios-Abril (at a heavily reduced price (if they were giving $3-3.5M for Gamboa-Rios and Alvarado-Herrera; $1M at the most for Rios-Abril and A vs. H)) is a good replacement. There were several reports where Gamboa wasn't agreeing to the terms being offered and a time where no updates were given until the fight was "finalized". The way Top Rank operates, I wouldn't be surprised if they just said "fvck it, Gamboa's either going to fight for what we offered him or back out so close to the date that HBO will have to take what we give them." If this were Ross Greenburg at the helm, this would've been a fight they would've taken under the circumstances, but Hershman isn't falling for the bull*****. HBO's schedule looks as if they're favoring quality over quantity (the first 3 months were scheduled by Greenburg).

Finally announced it. Soo dissapointing. Rios vs Abril does nothing for me.

Everyone's integrity and motivations must be called into question here... especially the promoters, who have a history of underhandedness. Bob Arum may not be as bad as some people say he is, but I have absolutely no doubt that he's pulled some shady maneuvers in his career. Let's be clear: just because something is legal doesn't make it ethical. One thing I do tend to believe is that someone as experienced as Arum doesn't stick his neck out very easily. If anyone is hanging in the wind it's Gamboa or Oner. I have no clue what went down, but I know Gamboa is going to get plenty of guff while Top Rank is trying to act totally innocent. I know it isn't nearly that black and white. Top Rank aren't fools, they may be a lot of things but they know how to play the game and to me that is exactly what they have been doing this whole time. That is just my opinion of course but I have watched a lot of Top Rank dealings, the important question to always ask is how anything benefits them because they loathe stepping into something that is not what they want. I can't fault them for that though it is a good way to do business, just sucks for those that they play fighters, fans or network officials.

Honestly, since the Rios fight is pretty much 100% off now, I'd rather just have Yuri get out of his contract with Top Rank, somehow-some way, if it's possible. Even if it means to not fight for a year, I'm serious. Go with Golden Boy, so we can see Gamboa vs. Broner at some point. I don't think it's even worth discussing. It's a pipe-dream. Gamboa isn't getting out of any contract with Top Rank. The best we can hope for is that he successfully resists that extension with Arena Box. If memory serves, TR wanted an extension 'til 2013; AB wanted him 'til 2016.

how much of a clueless sheep do you have to be to defend someone like bob arum?

...So don't call other people fools when they ask questions of Bob, he is far from honest and certainly not above pulling something. Everyone's integrity and motivations must be called into question here... especially the promoters, who have a history of underhandedness. Bob Arum may not be as bad as some people say he is, but I have absolutely no doubt that he's pulled some shady maneuvers in his career. Let's be clear: just because something is legal doesn't make it ethical. One thing I do tend to believe is that someone as experienced as Arum doesn't stick his neck out very easily. If anyone is hanging in the wind it's Gamboa or Oner.

As a fan, it's extremely disappointing that the Rios fight appears to be up in smoke. And Gamboa not showing up to the pressers added insult to injury. But no one on these forums knows what really happened here. My guess has always been that Ahmet Oner tried to pull a fast one and tie Yuri down to some ridiculous contract extension. Gamboa may have become wise to it later than he should've, but I can't blame him for standing his ground now. Once Yuri's career is over, no one will care what became of him. If he's living in poverty, with his brains scrambled, like Wilfred Benitez, people will say, "Poor guy" and keep it moving. Gamboa's doing what he has to do to ensure that doesn't happen. Honestly, since the Rios fight is pretty much 100% off now, I'd rather just have Yuri get out of his contract with Top Rank, somehow-some way, if it's possible. Even if it means to not fight for a year, I'm serious. Go with Golden Boy, so we can see Gamboa vs. Broner at some point.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm pissed off at Yuri for this one. I know he didn't like his offer and everyting, and didn't want to sign an extension with TR.....than he shouldn't have even entertained the possibility of the Rios fight. As a fan, it's extremely disappointing that the Rios fight appears to be up in smoke. And Gamboa not showing up to the pressers added insult to injury. But no one on these forums knows what really happened here. My guess has always been that Ahmet Oner tried to pull a fast one and tie Yuri down to some ridiculous contract extension. Gamboa may have become wise to it later than he should've, but I can't blame him for standing his ground now. Once Yuri's career is over, no one will care what became of him. If he's living in poverty, with his brains scrambled, like Wilfred Benitez, people will say, "Poor guy" and keep it moving. Gamboa's doing what he has to do to ensure that doesn't happen.

Don't be such an impulsive fool. No promoter would do this, least of all the best in the business. Calm down. Like Bob Arum wouldn't get caught up in paying the IBF to rank his guys then get caught up in a federal case on the subject. Oh wait that actually happened. Bob will do whatever to benefit his business, that is why he is where he is and suckering people to believe his side is a big part of that. So don't call other people fools when they ask questions of Bob, he is far from honest and certainly not above pulling something.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm pissed off at Yuri for this one. I know he didn't like his offer and everyting, and didn't want to sign an extension with TR.....than he shouldn't have even entertained the possibility of the Rios fight.

Promoters offer offer a refund if the advertised fight isn't happening. I don't know if the usual "programme subject to change" would cover a headline fight. They certainly worked hard on the fight, and legally Gamboa is in the wrong. There are witnesses to his ccepting the fight and the conditions. We don't know that for certain, Edgar. It's reasonable to assume that the Top Rank side of things (at least) is wired tight, but it's still only an assumption. Someone is obviously in the wrong here. We'll soon see if Gamboa's counsel is right or if Yuri is ignoring sound legal advice.

No use complaining. We already knew Arum was an evil fuck.

They won't because they already have 5000 tickets sold. I think most people saw this coming once Gamboa pulled out. No way is Arum going to cancel the card and give away all that money on people that thought they were getting a great fight. Arum is a terrible person but this one takes the cake. Promoters offer offer a refund if the advertised fight isn't happening. I don't know if the usual "programme subject to change" would cover a headline fight. They certainly worked hard on the fight, and legally Gamboa is in the wrong. There are witnesses to his ccepting the fight and the conditions.

So no Alvarado-Herrera either??? What the f**k???

Wow. Arums a fucking snake. No one can honestly believe he didn't know about this before the press conference. Mother fucker let tickets go on sale knowing this fight wouldnt happen. If he doesn't give a refund someone should start a class action law suit. Don't be such an impulsive fool. No promoter would do this, least of all the best in the business. Calm down.

You'll hate Arum for life but I don't think you will get a refund. If Rios -Gamboa is not on, he'll obviously get a refund. It happens all the time. They just haven't announced a refund yet as they still are talking to Gamboa.

Wait.... with or without HBO? Something doesn't quite rub me the right way with that comment. Have HBO and Top Rank come to a disagreement of some sort. I thought they were in this together. Don't look for conspiracies. He just means that if HBO don't want to screen it, Top Rank will do it themselves, as they often do. Nothing more. He thinks it's worth doing, and he'd rarely wrong. Also this may be just a way of nudging HBO to step in.

Arum is full of *****!!! He did the same thing for the Marg/Cotto fight but got lucky or paid somebody in the NYSAC. If not he would've had quite a few PRcans trying to lynch him.